[LETTERS to the editor]One test too many

I think the education ministry should seriously consider again the bad effects of nationwide exams for the future of Korean public education.

First, the exams will aggravate students’ test burdens. During their school days, students learn many things from peers and various field trips with their families. However, Korean students are busy with regular mid-term and final-term exams and several formative tests at the end of instruction by teachers. So the nationwide exam makes their free time shorter and adds another test they have to worry about.

Secondly, the nationwide exams will result in increasing private education costs for families. As soon as the government announced the tests, the private institutes quickly began to offer classes to prepare for the test, and some excessively worried parents hurried to private institutes to get their children into the classes.

The government has to listen to people through public hearings and seek the best way to develop Korea’s public education.

Ann, Seoul

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